Improvement in knapsack-engine



JOSEPH W. DOUGLAS, AOF MIDDLETOVVN, CONNECTIC'UT, ASSIGNOR TO Sz B. DOUGLAS, OFSAME PLACE.

Letters Patent N 93,974, dated August 24, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNAPSACK-ENGINB.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making parso!" the same.

' Be itlknown that I, J osi-:PH W. DOUGLAS, of Middletown, inthe county of' Middlesex, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new hydraulic machine, for the purpose of extinguishingfires, which I denominate The Knapsack-Engine, adapted to be strapped uponl the back of an individual, and -to carry only afew gal? lons oi' water, not enough to prevent aman from earrying the same up a pair of stairs, or through the scuttleof a roof, or up a ladder, through a window,

where incipient iiremay have made a commencement.

Itis well known, and often stated Viu the newspa-v pers, and by experienced firemen, that no inconsiderable portion of fires, when iirst discovered, might have been extinguished by a pitchcrof Water, applied in the right place.

Here is the combination of a force-pump anda pmtable reservoir, capable of being used wherever a man cango, especially upon the exposed aud dangerous parts of a building, where, but for this machine, effort i might be made in vain.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use 'my invention, I proceed to describe its construction supply from the bottom part of the reservoir, and is supplied with the usual air-chamber for equalizing the current. Y

To operate the pump, Wherever there is a flat or partially-inclined roof,'the reservoir, duly charged, is

set upon the roof, and the feetof the operator are placed upon the feet I) D. The handle of Bis grasped by the right hand, and the pipe C by the left, and the nozzle pointed to the red part of' the building, and the force-pump worked vigorously.

The smallness of the size, and the consequent quickness of movement, will enable this instrument to do its work before -other and larger instruments can be brought to the place and got into position.

This invention covers a' legitimate combinationof individual devices, not before used in the same way, to produce the same effect. It is a machine to all intents and purposes. It 'Ls adapted and designed tobe carried, on a mans back, to every part of a building where a fire may occur. It isalways in readinessfor operation at a half-minutes notice.

Having'explaiued the nature of the invention, and the mode of using the machine,

NVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i The vreservoir A, armed with foot-pieces D D and belts E E, in combination with the force-pump B and pipe C, arranged and operated substantially in the manner, and for the purpose herein set forth.

`- JOS. lV. DOUGLAS.

Witnesses:

JN0. M; DOUGLAS, D. W. RAYMOND. 

